Holder for cans and multi-can package



R. L. BRUNSING 2,913,105

HOLDER FOR CANS AND MULTI-CAN PACKAGE Nov. 17, 1959 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1956 INVENTOR'. Y REX L. BRUNS/NG A T TO/PNEVS Nov. 17, 1959 R. 1.. BRUNSING 2, i HOLDER FOR 'cms AND" MULTI-CAN PACKAGE Filed Dec. a1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR. REX L. BRUNS/NG BY k I",-

HOLDER FOR CANS ANDMULTI-CAN PACKAGE 7 Rex L. Brunsing, SanFranciscm Calif.

Application December 31, 1956, Serial No. 631,547

1 Claim. -(Cl.'20665 In thedrawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of one side" of a can holding blank "ready for assembly with the cans.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the can package.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the package of Fig. 1 partly in cross section.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified blank structure slightly different from Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a multi-can package formed with the holder of Fig. 4 and a row of cans.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the package of Fig. 5, partly in cross section.

In detail the blank of Fig. 1 is generally designated 1 and is elongated and formed with a pair of parallel folding creases 2 equally spaced from the ends of the blank and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said blank.

Spaced inwardly toward the center of the blank from each crease 2 a distance equal to the maximum diameter of the cylindrical cans to be used in forming the package, is a folding crease 3. Thus a pair of spaced creases 3 is provided, which creases are spaced apart the length of the cans that are to be used in forming the package.

The portion of the cardboard sheet or blank between creases 3 is the side panel 4 and its width transversely of the longitudinal axis of the blank is approximately equal to the length of the row of cans that are to be used in the package. This width is preferably slightly less than the length of the row of cans, so that the panel 4 will not extend too far beyond the centers of the end cans of the row, if beyond that.

The portions of the blank between creases 2 and 3 will be called flaps, and these are designated 5 and 6, while the portions between the end edges of the blank and creases 2 are called extensions and are designated 7, 8.

The flaps 5, 6 each carry evertacky adhesive 9, 10, 11 at spaced points thereon and when the flaps 5, 6 are folded along lines 3 to opposed relation and perpendicular to panel 4 the adhesive covered spots or areas 9 on said flaps 5, 6 will be in opposed relation and the adhesive areas or spots 10 in the center of flaps 5, 6 will also be in opposed relation, while the adhesive areas 11 will be in opposed relation at the ends of the flaps opposite to the adhesive areas 9. The adhesive covered areas 9, 10, 11 on each flap are equally spaced apart and preferably will be over the centers of the top and bottom 2,913,105 Patented Nov. 17,1959

. 2 ends of the-cans that are to be used in :forming the package. v V

Informing the package, the panel 4 will extend across the sides of the row of cans 12 (Fig. 2) at one side of the row, and the flap 5 will extend across the upper sides or ends of the cans while flap 6 will extend over the lower side or 1ower end. The chimes 13 in the cans will tightly engage'the panel 4 and flaps 5, 6 at the junctures betweenlthe flaps and panel, and. the portions of the flaps carrying the-adhesive will be pressed into the space enclosed by the chimes-at the ends of the cans and will. tightly adhere-to the ends of said cans. These portions carrying the adhesivefmay be pre-molded to fit within the chimes if desired.

Theendedges of the flapsS, 6 may becurved to substantially follow the. inner sides of the chimes 13 on the vend cans of the row it desired. This structure will hold the cans rigid against rotation relative to each other and against any movement'of the cans relatively and relative to the holder and the flaps also will cover the ends of the cans to keep .them cle'an, and no adhesive will be exposed to collectdus'tor foreign material; Since the adhesive has a greater'aflinity:for the cardboard than the holderis-removeds A Y .Whiletheextensions7,38 ;may'b e omitted in some instances, they are preferably used, and when bent toward each other at right angles to the flaps 7, 8 they'will extend over the upper and lower portions of the lateral sides of the cans opposite panel 4. These extensions may also carry evertacky adhesive at points 15 for securement to said portions of the lateral sides of the cans and will contribute to the rigidity of the package, as well as providing an attractive trim for the package.

The flaps 5, 6 and panel 4 may be printed with any suitable matter, as may the extensions 7, 3.

By merely pulling the upper extension 7 away from the cans, and upwardly, the holder is quickly released from the upper ends of the cans so the cans in turn,

for .the cans, no adhesive will remain on the cans when I can be removed from the bottom flap and extension 8.

In Figs. 4 and 6 the blank, generally designated 16, is formed with folding creases 17 and 18 that correspond to creases 2, 3 of Fig. 1 thereby defining a top flap 19, a bottom flap 2t? and a central side panel 21.

In this form of the invention openings 22, 23, 24 are formed in each flap at equally spaced points substantially corresponding to the adhesive spots or areas 9, 10, 11 of Fig. 1.

A strip 25 of adhesive tape having an evertacky adhesive on one side is secured to each flap so as to extend over said openings with the adhesive side exposed through the latter (Fig. 5).

This tape may be applied before the package is formed, or afterward, according to the system employed.

Upon folding the flaps 19, 20 to opposed relation over the upper and lower ends of the cans with the row of cans tightly against the flaps and panel 21 at the junctures between said flaps and panels, the exposed adhesive at the openings 22, 23, 24 will be pressed into engagement with the upper and lower ends of the cans and the cans and holder will form a rigid unit in which there is no relative movement of any kind possible between the cans or between the holder and the cans.

The extensions 26 that are outwardly of the creases 17 may be secured to the cans as seen in Fig. 3 or they may merely be bent to overlie the sides of the cans at their ends as seen in Fig. 6.

The tape 25 may bear any suitable printing thereon, and panel 21 also provides for printing. The border formed by the extensions 26 may be decoratively printed,

' 3 or scolloped or otherwise if desired.

In this form of the invention the flaps may be formed to correspond to the outline of flaps 5, 6 of Fig. l with circular openings corresponding to the outlines of the adhesive covered areas 9, 10, 11 or the flaps may be slightly shorter and the end openings of elliptical shape with their major axes extending transversely of the length of the flaps to provide more adhesive area in contact with the cans.

If desired any printed cover sheet or lamina may cover the tape carrying side of the blank and be glued thereto in the conventional manner for covering cardboard in the box making cut. The fundamental structure providing a cover flap for each of the ends of the cans and of providing means for adherently securing such flaps to the cans to provide a rigid package, are present.

One of the desirable 'features of the: invention as described, is the ease of removal, since the extensions 7, 8 and 26 provide pulling tabs easily gripped between tthe fingers of a hand for stripping the holder from the cans.

After the holder is removed from the cans the flaps can be folded flat against the central panel to provide a coaster for the cans, since the adhesive on the flaps will hold them flat with said central panel.

Another feature of the invention is that the cans can be replaced in the holder after the cans are removed, so as to facilitate disposing of the cans. The adhesive will retain its adherent characteristics after repeated use.

The detailed description of the invention is not intended to be restrictive of the scope thereof covered by the claim.

formed for decorative purposes 4 Iclaim:

A can package comprising: a row of upright cylindrical cans in side by side engaging relation, said cans having upper and lower ends and lateral side walls, radially and axially outwardly projecting chimes around the upper and lower ends of said cans, a vertical cardboard panel extending across the lateral sides of said cans at one side only of said row, opposed flaps integral with said panel along its upper and lower edges, extending over said upper and lower ends of said cans, spaced means carried by said flaps disposed over substantially the central portions of said upper and lower ends extending axially toward each other into the space enclosed by said chimes and in adherent releasable engagement with said'upper and lower ends, the said panel and flaps being in tight engagement with said chimes at the junctures between said panel and flaps, the portions of said flaps extending over the end cans of said row having curved edges disposed within the area enclosed by the chimes of said end cans and along and substantially in engagement with the radially inner facing surfaces of the portions of the chimes of the said end cans at the outermost ends of said row.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,190 Hennessey May 22, 1951 2,694,488 Crane Nov. 16, 1954 2,786,572 Gentry Mar. 26, 1957 2,814,385 Stone NOV. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,122,635 France" a May 28, 1956 

